LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Country now belongs to all of us

Editor,

Trump condemns Charlottesville violence but doesn’t single out white supremacists.

Trump’s candidacy excited many white supremacists.

Trump demonstrated very clearly his dislike for African-americans, Hispanics, Muslims, women, the LGBT, and disabled.

Trump’s words and actions towards people has made America unsafe.

KKK Leader David Duke declared that the scene in Charlottesville is a “turning point” for a movement that aims to fulfill the promises of Donald Trump.

David Duke said he is determined to take his country back.

It’s never been his country because the Native Americans were here first.

This country now belongs to all of us. Elaine Flores

Springville

The Dream

Editor,

Last night I had a dream that I feel I should share.

In my dream, I was sitting in this fairly large church. I was sitting up front next to another lady. We were the only ones on that bench. All of a sudden, there was a presence of men who came into the church. These men were not there to worship! These men were there to remove those who were worshipping the Lord. I have to admit, fear began to grip my heart, not knowing exactly at the time what was really going on. I recall reaching for my purse and covering it. The lady sitting next to me leaned over and let me know that was not what they were there for. I watched as others were taken out of the service. I looked back towards the door and observed, just outside the door, a green Army vehicle! Things began to become very clear at that point. The time had come. Our freedom to worship our God was coming to an end.

Next, I recall being in the backseat of one of the vehicles that were there. An officer leaned over and whispered to me, “Just be ready! Be ready.” I woke up! All day this dream and those words have been vivid in my heart and in my mind. Be ready. That, I feel, is the message Jesus wants me to share with you today.

We can no longer sing louder as the churches did during the Holocaust when trainloads of individuals were being taken to their deaths. I have read that pastors would tell their congregations to sing louder to nullify the cries of those in the trains. Are we not doing the same today? Are we not sitting by and singing louder. So to speak, when women and children are being exploited, abused, sold for nought and left to die in reproach and shame? Do we hear their cries? Are we, are you singing louder? The time has come, the time is now. We must listen to their cries. We can no longer just sing louder. Elaine Harris Porterville

Homelessness

Editor,

Regarding your editorial about homelessness, I agree with you that much of the issue probably has nothing to do with unemployment. I disagree with your statement that the unemployment rate has not changed much in decades.

The Bureau of Labor says a recent unemployment rate for Tulare County is 9.9 percent, which is hard to believe when I look around town and see a whole lot of people not at work. In 2015, Gallup said our country had about 44 percent employed with jobs of 30-plus hours per week. That leaves 56 percent who are either underemployed or unemployed.

The labor participation rate has also been dropping for years and is now about 63 percent. These statistics we are given in the media are misleading and are not of much use in judging the state of our economy. Tim Davis Porterville